LESTER PRAIRIE, MN  “It’s not the best economy, but you have to give it a try,” Sam Buhr said, of the car business that he and his son recently opened to Lester Prairie, Diamond Detailing and Auto Sales.

He expects that the economy can only get better from here.

The business was formerly located in New Germany, under the ownership of Buhr’s son Tobias, but has now moved to Lester Prairie in favor of the high traffic expected after Highway 7 opens.

Besides selling used cars, the shop does vehicle cleanup.

“We make them look like new,” Tobias said.

Sam was a truck driver who was recently laid off and thought that now was the right time to make a career change into auto cleanup and sales.

“It was natural,” Sam said of the job transition, explaining that he had worked with vehicles at his former job.

“I’ve been working on cars since I could drive,” he laughed.

Tobias explained that people often come to him in search of a particular make and model of a car.

“We find it (the car) for them, we make a little, and they save,” Tobias said.

A few professional athletes have found their way to Tobias when they were in need of vehicle cleanup. Tobias remembered when the 6’11’’ ex-Timberwolf, Christian Laettner walked into his shop.